TITLE
Recommendation to request City Attorney to draft an ordinance establishing flag protocols for the City of Long Beach.
DISCUSSION
According to United States Code Title 1 Section 4 § 7, by Presidential order the United States Flag shall be lowered to half-staff:
· For 30 days from the death of the President or a former President;
· For 10 days from the day of death of the Vice President, the Chief Justice or a retired Chief Justice of the United States, or the Speaker of the House of
· From the day of death until interment of an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court, a Secretary of an executive or military department, a former Vice President, or the Governor of a State, territory, or possession;
· On the day of death and the following day for a Member of Congress;
· On Memorial Day until noon;
· On Peace Officers Memorial Day, unless that day is also Armed Forces Day;
· On the event of the death of other officials or foreign dignitaries, according to Presidential instructions or orders, or in accordance with recognized customs or practices not inconsistent with law;
The Governor of a State, territory, or possession may proclaim that the National flag shall be flown at half-staff in the event of the death of a present or former official of the government of that State, territory, or possession of the United States.
Under that authority, the Governor of California has established a protocol to lower State and National flags at the State Capitol to half-staff for 72 hours, to commence upon order of the Governor, in the event of the death a soldier, peace officer or firefighter residing in California or any past or present California state or local elected officials.
Standards for the manner in which the United States flag shall displayed and lowered to half-staff are also contained in 4 U.S.C. 1 § 7.
California Government Code Section 430-439 grants Cities the ability to establish their own official flag and sets standards about the manner in which the C...
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